RCP chief responds to criticism from Township of Tyrone clerk

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July 26, 2021

By Mike Kruzman / [email protected]

The leader of a local community group responds to comments made Tuesday by Tyrone Township officials.

The fate of the 19th century townhouse has been in the spotlight in recent months as the nonprofit Residents for Community Preservation seeks to preserve and restore it to a point where the community can once again benefit. Frustrations between the group and township officials over the process and the speed at which it unfolds have been evident in several board meetings.

This came to the fore last Tuesday when Clerk Marcie Husted read a statement expressing the difficulties she sees working with RCP, naming two people she described as members, including founder Sara Dollman-Jersey.

Dollman-Jersey was not present at the meeting and clarified that the RCP has no members, but instead is made up of a board of directors, including herself as chairperson and spokesperson. They also host a Facebook page, but added, “That doesn’t make someone a member.” Dollman-Jersey said she was very disappointed with the comments made when she was not there to defend herself. She called Husteds’ remarks to her a blatant abuse of power. She is elected in a formal board meeting and has endless time to make her statement at a meeting I was not even present at. Dollman-Jersey added that competent leaders do not pit one community against one another or create conflict. Why this is the path that was chosen puzzles me. I don’t understand why this has become a conflict instead of a collaborative project.

She said it was never meant to be conflict-focused, but rather the families who live here, and the municipality doesn’t seem willing to work with them. She told WHMI, which I have witnessed over the past two months of trying to sit down at the table and work together – the only feeling I have is that they don’t want to really not move this building for some reason. We worked with the Historical Society to make a plan and proposal that was ignored, that was not allowed to be on the agenda and (and that was not) allowed to enter the building. to do a budget or a structural assessment. I think it is used as leverage to manipulate residents into believing it will cost them money and affect their bottom line.

Dollman-Jersey said this was presented as suggesting that taxes, milling or roads would impact the project, which seems very misleading. She says from the start it was about private funding and grant writing, which would not affect taxes.

Dollman-Jersey also refuted Husteds’ questions about the group’s fiscal responsibility by hiring a lawyer during an asphalt plant project. She said people were afraid of their property’s value and potential pollution and rallied as they were prepared to engage in a legal battle, if necessary, to protect the township. She called it a disappointment that it was being used as ammunition against the residents who have truly mobilized in an incredible way to stop something horrible.

Dollman-Jersey said the way the community is being treated is shameful and she hopes this can be resolved and moved forward in a positive way. His full response is posted below.

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